African Traditional Religion and African Philosophy

Abstract

“Philosophy,” Aristotle once declared, “is the product of ‘wonder.’” This critical activity that is peculiar only to man instantiates a wave of ponder and reflection on the ideas we live by with the view to finding (an) answer(s) to the perennial problems of humanity. This to say the least is (a) philosophical activity (ies). In Africa, African Traditional Religion (ATR) readily constitutes the subject of wonder as it is an intrinsic component of African worldview which is understood here as “the general picture of the world and the place of man in it.” Olusegun Oladipo (1993: 2) adds his voice here when he says that the place of man in the universe is derivable from some important beliefs and ideals which include among others economic, socio-political, metaphysical, philosophical, moral, religious, and aesthetics. This discourse seeks to interrogate the synergetic relationship between these ideas (philosophical) and ATR. Anchoring its arguments on the understanding that a worldview is either communal or philosophical, this chapter argues further that ATR enables African philosophy to make sense of African destiny, reality, and the world in which they live. As an essentially metaphysical endeavor, African Philosophy is argued here as an attempt to understand the African universe within the context of the place of man in this universe, purpose of human existence, and man’s ontology. The chapter employs critical and analytical approaches to buttress the point that African philosophy is essentially grounded on ATR: a product of African communal worldview. We argue the conclusion that reality is elaborately homogenic and in alignment with ATR, and that, for the African reality, it is ultimately spiritual though not in a Berkeleyan tradition of disclaiming material objects.

Alloy S. Ihuah is Professor of Philosophy at Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria. He researches and teaches philosophy of science, epistemology, and African philosophy.

Zaato M. Nor is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria. He researches and teaches metaphysics, contemporary ideologies, and African philosophy.